Bedstead covering



April 9, 1929. D. THOMPSON BEDSTEAD COVERING Filed March 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet Jamar 'fzampAwa,

. INVENTOR BY AW yak a WITNESS:

ATTOR N EY April 9, 1929.

D. THOMPSON BEDSTEAD ICOVERING Filed March 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet Jilin 4 J9 Jazz/1d MpM ATTORNEY I WITNESS:

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Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID THOMPSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IBEDSTEAD COVERING,

Application filed March 4, 1927. S,eria1 No. 172,711.

The present invention relates to an improved cover or closure for use in connection with bedsteads, the purpose being to provide an article of this character, where those lying in the bed cannot be observed by others who may enter the room.

A cover of this character is also very useful in hospitals, especially in rooms having two, three and four beds, or in a public ward Where there are a number of beds, it being possible to dispense with the screens that are usually used between the various beds. For instance, where beds arein a row one portion of the cover on the same'side of each bed may be raised, permitting the occupant of the bed to observe the closed side of the adjacent bed, preventing the occupant therein from being observed.

A cover or closure of this kind may be used by automobile tourists, especially those who are termed as tin-can tourists, living more or less in the open and in tents, the occupants of the bed being unobserved by those passing along the road. 1

Still further, a cover of this kind is made to fit beds of different sizes and where the head and foot boards are of different shape,

raised to permit of ingress and, egress, and.

to allow those occupying the bed to look outside when desired.

One of the features ofthe invention is a provision of guides on. head and foot boards having a plurality of slats, the guides being flexible to permit them to lit head andfoot boards of different shapes and sizes, the slats including a pliable cover of any suitable weatherproof material such as canvasor the like, inorder to shed the water, should the bed he in the open.

Still another feature is the inclusion of means for securing the sliding pliable cover in position on each side, to hold it down tight.

A further construction comprises means to secure transverse pieces or bars to the legs of the head and foot boards to further assist in holding the cover in position,there being adjustable rod connections between the bars or pieces and the flexible guides, so as to retain the parts in firm fitting position to the bed.

Itis to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitive and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made in the construction of the device according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings I Figure 1-is a view in perspective of an improved cover for bedsteads showing it applied to a bed. 1

Figure 2-isa side elevation of the bed cover, but showing the canvas covering re moved.

Figure 3-is an end view showing the footboard of the bed with the cover applied.

Figure 4-is a plan view of the bedstead canopy with the canvas cover removed. Figure 5-is an enlarged detail view of the inner face of either the headboard or the footboard, showing the rail thereof and illustrating on an enlarged scale the flexible guide for the several slats.

Figure 6-is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the footboard illustrating the fieX- .ible guide and the slats and also the canvas cover in dot and dash lines.

Figure 7-is a detail view of the canvas 00\" ering and its slats, the rollers being spindled at the ends of the slats.

l igure 8--is a detail sectional view through one of the guides and the rail of the footboard showing how the guide is mounted.

Figure 9is a sectional view through the lowermost slator bar of the cover, showing the spring tension devices for holding the lowermost slat or bar securely in position, when the coveris lowered.

Referring to the drawings:

1 identifies a conventional type of bed having a head boardQ and a foot board 3, and fitting the two boards is a cover 1-, which is made up of a plurality of slats or bars, which while being spaced, are joined in sequence by means of a canvas covering 5. Obviously when the slats or bars on each side of the bed are raised, thereby collapsing them together, the canvas cover arranges in folds, and when the slats are lowered the canvas stretches out and produces a comparatively smooth surface, as the canvas is on the outside of theslats.

Theends of the slats or bars have rollers 6 spindled thereon, and fitting the rails of the head and foot boards are flexible memhere 7. These'membcrs 7 are made u )of a plurality of sequentially un-i-teddin s as shown, such as will flex, and permit the members to fit different shapes and sizes of rails of head and foot boards. I r v The several links are providedwith guides 8. The guides are in the form of flanges 'ing certain of the straps 9 through thebuckles 10 the straps may be drawn tight, holding the members 7 securely 111 POSltlOn, It is only essential to utilize these straps 9 where the rails of the head and foot board curve downwardly to merge into the legs or the bedstead.

The lowermost slat or bar of thecover on each side thereof is tubular, and mounted in such tubular parts 11 are looking plungers 12, the shanks of which are mounted in guides 13, there being springs 14 interposed between the guides 13 and collars or discs 15 on the shanks of the plungers, to tension the latter and retain their enposed ends frictionally in contact with the bottoms of the several guides of the inen'ibers7, to retain the lower part of each side or the cover in lowered or raised positions. The shanks ofthe lockingplunger-s, have handles 16 which PI'OjGCt through slots 17 in the tubular parts 11, in

order to be graspedby an operator to release the locking plungers, to allow either or both sides the cover to be raised or lowered.

vArranged adjacentthe legs of the -bed stead,that is'bcl'ow the side rails thereof and transversely of the head and feet boards are pieces or bars 18 -The lower ends of the members 7terminate inspaced arms 19, which straddle the ends of the bar 18 and are pivotally connected to said bars shown, to hold the members in position; The members have arcuate seat-s 20which engage the rails of the'head and foot board, so v that the members can more readily conform to the shape and size of the head and foot boards.

It is to befnoted that the central link of 7 each member 7 at the centre and the extreme top of the headand foot boards is rigidly connected by a longltudinally extending rod 21, which assists materially in holding the members 7 in position, it being unnecessary in this instance for the use of straps Slat the central part of the bedstead. v

T oinsure, this condition an adjustable rod connection 23 is interposed between said central links of the members 7 and the transverse bars or pieceslS. These rod connections are on the outside of the head and foot boards, therefore they overlie the rails of saidboards and hence prevent any end movement of the members 7, in fact prevent any end movement of the cover as a unit.

This rod coniwcti on comprises two sections 2d and 25, the former being carried bythe central link of, the members 7, while the lat-' tor is connected to the transverse bar or piece 18 in any approved way, and these two sections 24 and 25 are telescopically imited as shown at 26, therebeing asst-screw 27, though any other similar device may bev used, for holding the two sections 24 and Qt in different adjusted positions, in order that the entire structure 01' the cover for the bedstead may be fitted; to beds of different sizes.

- The transverse pieces or bars '18 are con- 7 nected to the legs of the bedstead by Uz-shaped staples or holding members 28, which straddle the legs of the bedstead and have nuts 29 thereon to tighten the-pieces or bars 18. in position. i

The canvas cover 5 as previously stated arranges in folds when the slats or bars areicollapsed toopen positions. However, this cover 5, merges intohead and foot board end covers 30, which overlie the links. of the members 7 upon the rails of the head and foot board of a bed, and a slat and canvas cover with means for operatively oining the slats in the guides, whereby either side ofthe cover may he slidably raised or lowered in the flexible guides.

2. A portable cover forbedsteads comprising flexible guides with means for mounting them upon the rails of the head and foot boards, a pliable cover operatively associated with the guides, whereby either side oft-he cover may be slidably raised or lowered in the flexible guides, means to connect the lower ends of the guides to thelegsof thebedrstead.

3. A portable cover forbed-steads comprisflexible guides for the head and foot boa-rdsof the bedstead, said flexible; guides constructed to, operatively engage with the upper and side margins of the headand foot board rails, rods connectedcentrally to both flexible guides and extending downwardly centrally of the head and foot boards, trans- 5 verse bars operatively connecting the legs of the head and foot boards respectively, the lower ends of the flexible guides connected to the extremities of the transverse bars, said rods having adjustable connections with the transverse bars, and a pliable cover operatively associated with and in the flexible guides, whereby either side of the cover may be raised or lowered.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature hereto.

DAVID THOMPSON. 

